ECE5320 Mechatronics

Assignment#01: Literature Survey on Sensors and Actuators

Topic: Breathalyzers (Breath Alcohol Content

Sensors)
Prepared by: Justin Horrell

Dept. of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Utah State University
E: justin.horrell@aggiemail.usu.edu;
3/11/2010

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Outline

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Reference list
Major applications
Basic working principle
Law enforcement application
Major specifications
Electrochemical fuel cell specifications
Limitations
Choosing a breathalyzer
Cost information and variability
Models, cost and where to purchase
ECE5320 Mechatronics. Assignment#1 Survey on sensors and actuators

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Reference List

http://www.pololu.com
http://www.intox.com/
http://www.breathalyzer.net
http://www.bactrack.com
http://www.amazon.com
http://www.fuelcell-sensors.com

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ECE5320 Mechatronics. Assignment#1 Survey on sensors and actuators

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Further Reference
http://www.futurlec.com/Gas_Sensors.shtml
http://www.fctec.com/fctec_basics.asp
http://www.pololu.com/file/download/MQ3.pdf?f
ile_id=0J310
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrochemical_cell
http://hyperphysics.phyastr.gsu.edu/hbase/chemical/electrochem.html
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ECE5320 Mechatronics. Assignment#1 Survey on sensors and actuators

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Major Applications
Principle technology to measure similar gasses,
not just alcohol. Major applications of gas
sensors are:

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Law enforcement (alcohol)

Mining safety (methane)
CO detection
Air quality control
Hospitals

ECE5320 Mechatronics. Assignment#1 Survey on sensors and actuators

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Basic Working Principle

Several methods of detecting alcohol gas in
breath:

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Chemical reaction causing color change

Infrared spectroscopy
Electro-chemical Analysis (using a fuel cell)
Most common application is chemical reaction in a
fuel cell, but we will explore all three.

ECE5320 Mechatronics. Assignment#1 Survey on sensors and actuators

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Basic Working Principle

Chemical reaction causing color change
Breath is exhaled by the subject into the device
Alcohol is converted to liquid form by sulfuric acid
Mixture reacts with potassium dichromate to produce
a color proportional to the alcohol content
Photocells convert the color difference from reacted
mixture to an un-reacted sample to electrical current
Electrical current is converted to a digital display

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ECE5320 Mechatronics. Assignment#1 Survey on sensors and actuators

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Basic Working Principle

Infrared Spectroscopy

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Used to identify various compounds within a sample

Molecules are identified based on IR interaction
Breath is exhaled into an laser tube
IR light is sent through the exhaled air
Optical band-pass filter is used to identify ethanol
Electrical current determines alcohol content based on
the signal amplitude from the filter

ECE5320 Mechatronics. Assignment#1 Survey on sensors and actuators

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Basic Working Principle

Electro-chemical Analysis
Breath is exhaled onto a fuel cell
Cell consists of two platinum leads with a porous
layer between
Converts alcohol to acid
Creates free electrons
Free electrons are directly
proportional to breath alcohol
content.
http://www.intox.com/images/FC_Schematic.gif

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ECE5320 Mechatronics. Assignment#1 Survey on sensors and actuators

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Law Enforcement Application

Purposes for breathalyzer tests in law
enforcement:
Local, state and highway police department road-side
DUI determination and arrest
Jails and prisons for testing on inmates
Probation officers to ensure offenders are keeping to
the terms of their probation
Work release programs within the prison system

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ECE5320 Mechatronics. Assignment#1 Survey on sensors and actuators

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Law Enforcement Application

Todays technology relies mostly on Electrochemical Analysis using fuel cells.
Pros:

Specifically calibrated for human breath

Easy to maintain consistent measurement
Linear response
Low power consumption

Con:
Limited sample amount unable to account for variance
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ECE5320 Mechatronics. Assignment#1 Survey on sensors and actuators

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Major Specifications
We will explore the BACtrack S80 Pro
Breathalyzer
Commonly used in Law Enforcement
Quick response time
Accurate with even trace amounts of alcohol
0.002 0.4 % Accuracy range (This is virtually the range
from complete sobriety and death)

Accurate with even trace amounts of alcohol

Linear response
Durable and long lasting
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ECE5320 Mechatronics. Assignment#1 Survey on sensors and actuators

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Major Specifications
Specifications of the
BACtrack S80 Pro:
Requires Calibration
Runs on two AA
batteries.

http://lib.store.yahoo.net/lib/breathalyzer-net/bactrack-s80-ownersmanual-5.pdf

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ECE5320 Mechatronics. Assignment#1 Survey on sensors and actuators

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Electrochemical Fuel Cell

BACtrack S80 Pro utilizes electrochemical fuel
cell sensor technology as this figure shows

http://chemelab.ucsd.edu/fuel04/0b86c2e0.png

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ECE5320 Mechatronics. Assignment#1 Survey on sensors and actuators

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Electrochemical Fuel Cell

The correlation precision of the Peak Output at
increasing gas concentrations:

http://www.fuelcell-sensors.com/technology.html

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ECE5320 Mechatronics. Assignment#1 Survey on sensors and actuators

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Limitations
Inaccurate readings following eating, drinking or
smoking within 20 minutes of using the device
Accurate temperature range is 0-40 C
Requires calibration every 6-12 months
Requires at least 5 seconds of air flow to ensure
accuracy

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ECE5320 Mechatronics. Assignment#1 Survey on sensors and actuators

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Choosing a breathalyzer
Determination of which breathalyzer is right for
you depends on your application.
Professional such as law enforcement or hospitals
should choose a breathalyzer which is
Accurate
Large range of accuracy
Electrochemical fuel cell fits these requirements

Personal use must consider cost, and may choose

a less accurate device
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ECE5320 Mechatronics. Assignment#1 Survey on sensors and actuators

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Acquiring a Breathalyzer
We will now go over several different devices
which are available for purchase
Consider cost and availability
Determine how much accuracy you need versus
cost
Finally we will explore where to purchase a
device

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ECE5320 Mechatronics. Assignment#1 Survey on sensors and actuators

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FC20 Portable Breath Alcohol Analyzer

Most accurate fuel cell

Large size
Moderate power
Memory and printing
0.00-0.60 % BAC
Consumer: $1,380.00
Call:
1-877-334-6876 to order

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http://www.breathalyzer.net/fc20kit.html

ECE5320 Mechatronics. Assignment#1 Survey on sensors and actuators

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BACtrack S80 Pro

Accurate
Small size
Wide range
Low power
0.00 0.40 % BAC
http://lib.store.yahoo.net/lib/breathalyzer-net/S80-box-kit.jpg
Consumer: $200
May purchase from the manufacturer:

http://www.breathalyzer.net/bactrack-select-s80.html
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ECE5320 Mechatronics. Assignment#1 Survey on sensors and actuators